Photo Gallery of Gayla’s Costume Shoppe, Benton, Arkansas

A LITTLE HISTORY FIRST

Gayla’s Costume Shoppe is how most locals in Benton Arkansas knew the big yellow house at 2018 Congo Road.

The owners of Gayla’s sold the house and land in 2009 to two siblings from the Fleming family, Robert Fleming and Anne Fleming Packebush. Their grandparents, Otto and Lydia Fleming, were the original owners.

According to Ms. Packebush, the Flemings first built on the property in 1900, but that original home burned and was a total loss. The next home, built there by the same family in 1931, is the yellow house we have seen more recently until it was demolished.

Ms. Packebush stated in a social media post that the Flemings had 14 children. Their son, Clyde and his wife Charlotte, lived in the ranch style house next door and were the parents of Anne and her brother/co-owner Robert.

Ms. Packebush recalls that Gerald Baxley bought the house after her grandmother Fleming died. Next it was rented, then the McCoys (costume shop) owned it since the 1980s and finally it went back to the family.

Jerri DeLamar stated on social media that, while her family only lived in the house for about a year, her father, Mr. Baxley, was the one who painted the house yellow, in the mid-1970s.

See the Photo Gallery below, and read about what happened to the property after it was sold in June 2022.

PHOTO GALLERY

2006 – STILL OPEN, INSIDE & OUT:

The sign in front (east side) of Gayla’s Costume Shoppe shows the address to be 2018 New Congo Rd. but the Saline County Assessor’s record shows this to be just Congo Rd.

Some of the many masks on the wall during Gayla’s peak time near Halloween. How many masks do you recognize?

If you wanted to portray an American First Lady, Gayla’s could help with a mask and even a pantsuit.

During peak sales time near Halloween, the costume store was very busy with shoppers and requests.

You might dress as a king, or merely as someone who had eaten Imperial Margarine.

With so many options to choose from, finding the perfect costume could be a beast.

The public was able to hop over to Gayla’s for costumes on other holidays, as well as drama productions and other special occasions.

You could use a wig to play, or have a luau with a lei.

Prepackaged costumes made Halloween easy.

Staff would reach something high for you, so you don’t have to duck if it falls.

This costume was Shaggy, even though it was brand new.

I’m afraid I don’t have anything cute to say about this. Woops I meant to say I’m afraid, and I don’t have anything cute to say about this.

This sign out front on Congo Road shows the phone number and open days and times.

This side view shows the warehouse section at the rear (west side) of Gayla’s Costume Shoppe. The entry door is shown in the middle, with the small awning above it.